Official Number:                       99886

Pennant No:                            Y 4.30

Laid down:

Builder:                                   John Shearer & Son, Kelvinhaugh

Launched:                               4 March 1893

Into Service:                            2 July 1915

Out of service:                         31 July 1915

Fate:                                      Sunk by gunfire 31 July 1915

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA

Career Data:

4 March 1893 launched by John Shearer & Son, Kelvinhaugh as Yard Nr: 11 named Turquoise for Wm Robertson & Co., Glasgow

March 1893 completed

18 December 1900 at Cardiff fouled by the ship Forthbank causing damage to Turquoise’s Bridge

28 July 1904 in collision with the Italian brigantine Ester in foul weather in the English Channel. The Italian ship received damage which was repaired at Plymouth

10 March 1907 while on passage from Cardiff for Greenock with a cargo of coal stranded on the South Rocks off Cloughey

12 March 1907 towed off from South Rocks off Cloughey and proceeded to Portaferry

14 February 1912 saved the four man crew of the fishing smack Swallow which had sunk near the Lune Gas Buoy, Morecombe landing them at Irvin

2 July 1915 requisitioned for Admiralty service as a Fleet Messenger, name unchanged. Her Commanding Officer was Lieutenant John McNichol RNR

31 July 1915 while on passage from Glasgow to Bizerta in ballast she was sunk by gunfire from the German submarine U28 some 68 miles SW of the Scilly Isles in position 40.00N 7.00W. The Chief Engineer Officer Robert McDonald was killed and two of the crew were wounded